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The Division of Water Resource Management is responsible for
Regulating Floodway Construction Activities in or along Illinois rivers, lakes and streams,
Regulating Public Waters , Construction and other activities
Regulating Construction and Maintenance of Dams
Lake Michigan Water Use allocation and monitoring,
National Flood Insurance Program coordination and
Flood Mitigation Program (nonstructural) administration.
The Division provides these services through offices in Chicago,
Bartlett and Springfield.
Regulation
These responsibilities are carried out through four program sections:
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NORTHEASTERN IL REGULATORY PROGRAMS
The Northeastern Illinois Regulatory Programs Section is responsible
for floodplain management activities in the metropolitan Chicago
counties of Cook, Dupage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will.
Permits are
issued for construction of dams, construction in the floodway of
streams and activities in and along public bodies of water. The
section administers a program through which local governments are
delegated authority to approve construction projects under the
state's floodway construction rules. The section assists the
Statewide Programs Section in the coordination of the National
Flood Insurance Program.
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DOWNSTATE REGULATORY PROGRAMS
The Downstate Regulatory Programs Section is responsible for
floodplain management activities in the remaining counties. Permits
(see Permit Programs) are issued
for construction of dams,
construction in the floodway of streams and activities in and
along public bodies of water. The section assists the Statewide
Programs Section in the coordination of the National Flood
Insurance Program.
- STATEWIDE PROGRAMS
The Statewide Programs Section is responsible for non-permit
programs that are applicable in all areas of the state. The section
is responsible for the nonstructural mitigation program which
purchases and removes structures which are repeatedly flooded.
The section leads coordination activities for the National Flood
Insurance Program. The section coordinates the development of
regulatory floodplain mapping and approval of stream discharges
used for regulatory programs. The section provides coordination
of state assistance to regional stormwater management programs.
- LAKE MICHIGAN PROGRAMS
The Lake Michigan Programs Section is responsible for the
management of the state's interests in Lake Michigan. Permits
(see Permit Programs) are issued for activities in and adjacent
to Lake Michigan. The section also administers the
allocation of
water from Lake Michigan. The section monitors technical studies
and data collection activities related to the lake level and bank
erosion and sediment movement in the lake. The section represents
the state of Illinois on interstate and international organizations
related to Lake Michigan.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)
Local floodplain administrators can now download the following documents
in pdf format (
Adobe Acrobat Reader required):
The
NFIP is a voluntary program based on a mutual agreement between the federal
government and the local community. The NFIP is administered by
the Federal Insurance Administration (FIA) within the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). The Illinois Department of Natural Resources/Office
of Water Resources (IDNR/OWR) is the state coordinating agency for the
NFIP.
Illinois has one of the largest inland systems of rivers, lakes and streams in
the United States. Nearly 15% of our total land area (or 7,400 square
miles) is subject to flooding. Total stream flow in Illinois averages
over 25 BILLION gallons per day!
Floods are by far the most common natural disaster in Illinois, accounting for
well over 90% of the declared disasters. It is estimated that over 250,000
buildings are located in floodplains of Illinois. Unwise floodplain development
further increases property damage and potential loss of life from flooding.
Annual damages in the state average nearly 700 million dollars!
The
National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was created by Congress in 1968
to slow ever rising disaster relief costs and reduce the loss of life
and property caused by flooding.
Floods are an inevitable natural event. There are almost always adverse
impacts upon the citizens, local governments and state government from
both physical and financial damages. Help communities develop programs to avoid
disastrous consequences when floods occur.
For more information:
- Flood
plain management rules in downstate communities:
-
Flood plain management rules in northeastern Illinois:
Permits
The Division of Water Resource Management (DWRM) issues
permits to
demonstrate compliance with its administrative rules. The Division
issues permits for work in and along the rivers, lakes and streams
of the state, including Lake Michigan, for activities in and along
the public waters, and for the construction and maintenance of dams.
Mitigation
Objectives
- Statewide Flood Damage Reduction
- Support Community Flood Mitigation Plans
- Leverage Federal Flood Mitigation Dollars
- Encourage CRS Community Activities
- Pubic Water Access and Management
FEMA mitigation programs:
http://www.fema.gov/about/divisions/mitigation.shtm#1
IEMA mitigation programs:
http://www.state.il.us/iema/planning/planning.htm
IEMA Mitigation planning:
http://www.state.il.us/iema/planning/MitigationPlanning.asp
Eligible Recipients
- Local Governments
- NFIP Communities
- Counties
- Communities with approved floodplain development ordinance
Local Responsibilities
- Oversee structure acquisition and demolition of floodprone structures per Intergovernmental Agreement;
- Pay any project costs in excess of those supported by the program;
- Maintain acquired parcels as open space in perpetuity;
- Acquire all local permits for the project;
- Pay for any utility relocations required by the project;
- Maintain eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program
Funding Limits
- $1,000,000. Maximum / community / project
- $25,000. Minimum
Eligible Projects
Section 5: Acquisition and demolition of repetitive loss and severely damaged floodprone structures statewide
Engineering Design
Section 110: Acquisition and demolition of lands and structures in the 100-year floodplain in counties authorized to prepare stormwater management plans
Section 120: Flood mitigation in declared disaster areas
Ineligible Activities
- Reimbursement for previously completed projects
- Maintenance / Operation or Repair costs
- Purchase of structure contents
- Equipment purchases
- Relocation / temporary housing costs
- Floodproofing private properties
- Elevating private properties
Preferences
- Projects in NFIP communities
- Projects in an approved floodplain mitigation plan
- Removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged properties
- Cost share to leverage Federal dollars
- Mitigation activities that supplement public flood control projects
- Property acquisition for pubic water access or management
- B/C ratio > 1
Repetitive Loss
Four or more separate claim payments of more than $5,000 each (including building and contents payments); or
Two or more separate claim payments (building payments only) where the total of the payments exceeds the current market value of the property.
Selection Criteria
- Public Safety
- Financial Need
- Mitigation Plan
- Statewide Implementation
- Environmental Clearances
- Benefit-cost
- Related Public Benefits
- Public Safety (0 – 10 Points)
- Immediate Threat to Health or Safety of the Community
- Removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged properties
- Frequent Evacuation Site
- Transportation Benefits
Terms of Agreement
- IDNR will reimburse community for approved Project costs
- No pre-agreement reimbursement
- IDNR will provide technical assistance
- Project administration costs not provided
- Relocation / temporary housing costs not provided
- Purchases in the name of the state with future convance to the community
- NFIP Community
- Environmental clearances
- IDNR willing to participate in condemnation if necessary
- Community to maintain open space in perpetuity
Point of Contact
Able N. Ready
Mitigation Program Manager
Illinois Departments of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702
Illinois Lake Michigan Water Allocation Program
A 1967 U.S. Supreme Court Decree limits Illinois' diversion of water
from Lake Michigan. In response, the General Assembly has tasked the
Illinois Department of Natural Resources with developing an ongoing
program to equitably allocate Illinois' limited supply of Lake Michigan
water. The "Rules and Regulations for the Allocation of Water from Lake
Michigan" describe the allocation process, contains the criteria used to
evaluate applications for a water allocation and the water conservation
practices and other permit conditions required of allocation permit holders.
Allocation Objectives
The importance of wise, long-term water resource planning and the large
investments that must be made to secure new water supply sources requires
that the objectives of an allocation program clearly address the problems
to be solved. In Illinois' case, the objectives must also address the
specific requirements of the U.S. Supreme Court Decree. The objectives,
or goals, of Illinois' allocation program can be summarized as follows;
- To make the greatest amount of Lake Michigan water available for
domestic water supply.
- To use Lake Michigan water allocations as a tool to preserve groundwater
resources for communities in northeastern Illinois who will not have access
to a Lake Michigan water supply.
- To make long-term allocations so that communities receiving an allocation
for the first time can secure the needed financing to construct regional water
distribution systems.
- To carefully consider the competing needs of all water users in the region
so that allocations promote the efficient development of water supplies in the
region in light of long range needs and objectives.
- To require all users of Lake Michigan water to conserve and manage this resource.
Allocation Process
A successful water allocation program must combine a technically defensible
methodology with an administrative process that follows legally defensible
procedures and treats all applicants fairly. To achieve this goal, Illinois'
allocation process consists of the following key elements:
For all downstate/statewide issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
One Natural Resources Way
Springfield, IL 62702-1271
Phone: 217/782-3863 Fax: 217/785-5014
For Lake Michigan issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
160 N. LaSalle St, Suite S-700
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312/793-3123 or 312/793-3126 Fax: 312/793-5968
For other Chicago area issues:
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Office of Water Resources
2050 W. Stearns Road
Bartlett, Illinois 60103
Phone: 847/608-3100 Ext. 2025 Fax 847/931-2037
To contact any office you can Email Us
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